Barbara Bray Edwards: The untold story of Andy Griffith's first wife
Barbara Bray Edwards is best remembered as Andy Griffith's first wife. The late Andy Griffith was an actor, comedian, television producer, singer, and writer best known for The Andy Griffith Show. Barbara and Griffith parted ways after being married for over two decades.
Source: Getty Images
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Barbara Edwards was an American actress.
- Many people remember her as the first wife of the late Andy Griffith.
- Besides being known as Andy's first spouse, she is remembered for her role in The Andy Griffith Show.
- She died of natural causes on 23 July 1980. She was 53 years old at the time.
Profile summary
| Full name | Barbara Bray Edwards |
| Gender | Female |
| Date of birth | 17 August 1926 |
| Date of death | 23 July 1980 |
| Age at death | 53 years |
| Place of birth | Wilson, North Carolina, United States of America |
| Residence before death | Los Angeles, California, United States of America |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Zodiac sign | Leo |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Sexuality | Straight |
| Hair colour | Dark brown |
| Eye colour | Brown |
| Marital status | Divorced (at the time of death) |
| Ex-husband | Andy Griffith |
| Children | 2 |
| Father | James Spurgeon Edwards |
| Mother | Dixie Vance (Lamm) Edwards |
| Profession | Actress |
Who was Barbara Bray Edwards?
Barbara Bray Edwards was Andy Griffith's first wife. She was an actress. She and Griffith were married for about 23 years before calling the relationship quits.
How old was Barbara Bray Edwards when she died?
Barbara Bray Edwards' age was 53 years old when she passed away. She was born on 17 August 1926 and died on 23 July 1980. Her Zodiac sign was Leo.
Where was Barbara Edwards from?
The late actress was born and raised in Wilson, North Carolina, United States of America. Her parents are James Spurgeon and Dixie Vance (Lamm) Edwards. Her nationality was American, and her ethnicity was White.
Source: Original
Barbara came into the limelight because of her relationship with Andy Griffith. She was an actress who appeared in an episode of The Andy Griffith Show. She portrayed the character of Sharon. Andy Griffith’s first wife also appeared as herself on The Sam Levenson Show.
Who was Andy Griffith?
Andy Samuel Griffith was a famous actor, comedian, television producer, southern gospel singer, and writer. According to his biography, he was born on 1 June 1926 in Mount Airy, North Carolina, to Carl Lee and Geneva Griffith. He was his parent's only child.
He attended Mount Airy High School in 1944 before enrolling at the University of North Carolina (UNC) in Chapel Hill.
Andy Griffith was interested in the arts and participated in the school drama programme. He was a divinity student before changing majors and earning a Bachelor of Music degree. He graduated in 1949 and taught music in high school.
He rose to prominence on television. He portrayed Andy Taylor in the comedy series The Andy Griffith Show (1960-1968). The Andy Griffith Show had a star-studded cast, including the likes of Aneta Corsaut and Ron Howard. He also portrayed Ben Matlock in the legal drama Matlock (1986–1995).
His hit comedy series The Andy Griffith Show made him famous. He was nominated for two Tony Awards. He died on 3 July 2012 in Manteo, North Carolina, USA after suffering a heart attack.
What happened to Andy Taylor's wife?
Andy from The Andy Griffith Show was a widower. He was the father to a son named Opie. Opie's mother died when he was a newborn baby.
How did Andy Griffith meet his first wife?
Barbara Bray and Andy Griffith met in college. They met while studying music at the University of North Carolina. After dating for some time, they got married in 1949. The couple divorced in 1972 after 23 years of marriage.
Did Andy Griffith have biological children?
Barbara Bray Edwards and Andy Griffith did not have biological children together. However, the couple adopted two kids.
Their adopted kids are Andy Samuel Griffith Jr. and Dixie Griffith. Andy Griffith Jr. died of alcoholism in 1996. He had liver cirrhosis as well as other health issues.
Source: Getty Images
How many times was Andy Griffith married?
The television producer got married three times before his demise. He divorced his first wife, Barbara, in 1972. Andy Griffith's second wife was Solica Cassuto. They tied the knot in 1973 and divorced her in 1981.
Griffith married his third wife, Cindi Knight, in 1983. He did not get biological kids with his Solica and Knight.
What happened to Barbara Bray Edwards?
Barbara Bray Edwards's obituary in 1980 shows that the actress died on 23 July 1980. She passed away in Los Angeles, California, United States of America, at 53. She was laid to rest in Hollywood Hills, California, at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.
What was Barbara Bray Edwards' cause of death?
Barbara died of natural causes on July 23, 1980, in Beverly Hills, California.
How much is Andi Griffith's net worth?
At the time of his death, the late actor had an estimated net worth of $25 million.
FAQs
- Who was Barbara Bray Edwards? She was an American actress known for her role in The Andy Griffith Show (1960). She was also known as the first wife of the late legendary Andy Samuel Griffith.
- How old was Barbara Bray Edwards at the time of her death? She was 53 years old. She was born on 17 August 1926 and died on 23 July 1980.
- Who were Barbara Bray Edwards' parents? Her parents were James Spurgeon Edwards and Dixie Vance (Lamm) Edwards.
- Where was Barbara Bray Edwards buried? She was buried at Hollywood Hills, California, USA, at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.
- Is Barbara Bray Edwards' ex-husband alive? No, her ex-husband died on 3 July 2012.
- Did Barbara Bray Edwards have children? She did not have her biological children, but she adopted two. Their names are the late Andy Samuel Griffith Jr. and Dixie Griffith.
- Who did Barbara Bray Edwards play on The Andy Griffith Show? She portrayed the character of Sharon on the show.
- How did Andy Griffith's first wife die? Barbara died of natural causes on July 23, 1980.
- Is Barbara Bray Edwards still alive? No, the actress died of natural causes in Beverly Hills, California on 23 July 1980.
- What was the age difference between Andy Griffith and his third wife? The age difference between Andy and his third wife, Cindi Knight, was 29 years. They married in 1983 when Griffith was 56 and Knight was 27.
Barbara Bray Edwards is remembered for her appearance on The Andy Griffith Show as Sharon. Despite her divorce from her husband, many people remember her as Andy Griffith's first wife.
Yen.com.gh recently published Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang's biography. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang is a household name in Ghana.
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Cyprine Apindi (Lifestyle writer) Cyprine Apindi is a content creator and educator with over six years of experience. She holds a Diploma in Mass Communication and a Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from Kenyatta University. Cyprine joined Briefly.co.za in mid-2021, covering multiple topics, including finance, entertainment, sports, and lifestyle. In 2023, she finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. She received the 2023 Writer of the Year Award. In 2024, she completed the Google News Initiative course. Email: cyprineapindi@gmail.com
Tatiana Thiga (Lifestyle writer) Tatiana Thiga is a content creator who joined Yen in 2022. She is an English literature graduate from Kenyatta University. She has amassed sufficient knowledge working on a variety of topics, including biographies, fashion and lifestyles, guides, and more. In 2023, Tatiana finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. You can reach her at tatianathiga@gmail.com
